Development Ratings

Director Dr. Michael Brophy OBE is a former secondary school teacher. His post-graduate academic studies were in curriculum development and distance teaching evaluation. Dr. Brophy has worked in The Gambia, The Seychelles, Bhutan and Jordan, in roles for DfID, UNESCO and the British Council. Deputy Director Jill Landymore has 25 years experience in scholarships and university service. Other key staff have backgrounds in education, academia, the law, and administration, in addition to extensive African knowledge and work experience. Trustees include a charity director, a former Foreign Office analyst, university deputy vice-chancellors and rectors, the UNICEF Chief of Education, and specialists in African politics, risk management, law, and multi-cultural and disability education. Patrons include Lord & Lady Kinnock and Philip Pullman.

The Trust has high levels of institutional funding which is low cost fundraising. This explains the negligible fundraising efficiency. As a result, though, restricted income is rather high. This reduces the Trust’s flexibility to respond to occasional eventualities and to develop core functions to replicate its work.

In 2008, the country breakdown of restricted funds was: Somalia/Somaliland/Puntland 76%; Southern Sudan 19%; Swaziland 3%; Kenya 1%, and the balance in Uganda, South Africa and UK programmes.

Income was fairly static in 2008 as a large tranche of project funding came in just after the year end. There is a good rise forecast for 2009, however.

In 2008, income was derived from the following sources: institutions 69%, trusts and foundations 27%, and the 4% balance from individuals and sundry income. Major donors for the year were the EU, DfID, Comic Relief, and the British Council.

The Trust has high